Svalbard Update: Boat Ready & Weather Watching
We made it to Longyearbyen on Monday after a short stopover in Oslo, and waiting for us on arrival was a very welcome sight: Duncan. Our reunion was a happy one, and having him with us for the entirety of our time in Svalbard has made all the difference.
Trying to fit a lot of kit and food onto Happy Days
After a quick check-in at our accommodation, we headed straight to the logistics company to get our hands on Happy Days, our boat, who had been waiting patiently in storage for the past few weeks.
Monday and Tuesday were all about getting her ready. We loaded our food supplies on board, worked through every technical system to make sure everything was functioning properly, and slowly turned the boat from “in storage” to “ready for the Arctic.” Duncan’s experience has already been invaluable in spotting details we would have otherwise missed.
We also had our first proper check-in with Simon, our weather router, to start building a picture of the conditions ahead and when our first real weather window might open up.
Wednesday brought the moment we had all been waiting for: our first row out into the bay of Longyearbyen. The excitement on board was impossible to hide. Happy Days handled beautifully, and we felt genuinely good managing the Arctic Ocean conditions for the first time as a crew.
Out on the Arctic Ocean for the first time
Thursday was about building on that. We went out again, this time focusing on shift changes and the small operational routines that will matter enormously once we are out there for weeks on end. Simon also came back to us with an update: the weather system is shifting, and we’re keeping our eyes open for an optimal day to embark on our expedition.
We are itching to get going. At the same time, these last couple of days off the water have been genuinely good for team morale. It has given us a chance to rest, look after ourselves, and simply enjoy being together, knowing the boat is ready and the wait is nearly over.
Svalbard has been the perfect final step before the real adventure begins. Next stop: the ice edge.